Reinforcements from the Premier League?
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Schalke 04 are apparently targeting a player from the Premier League. Igor Julio from Brighton & Hove Albion is said to be on the list for the Bundesliga newcomer, reports “Sky” and “Bild” in Germany and the English media, among others. Accordingly, the Royal Blues want to loan out the central defender including a purchase option.
However, there are still no signs of a trend in courting the 28-year-old; it is said that negotiations between the clubs are ongoing. Igor Julio would immediately be the most valuable player in the current Schalke squad next season with a market value of 10 million euros. Currently this is Soufiane El-Faouzi with 9 million euros. At the end of 2024, the Brazilian was valued at 22 million euros, but then received five devaluations in a row. In 2024/25 he was out for a long time due to injury and last season he only made five appearances lasting 193 minutes.
According to “Bild”, Igor Julio is considered a dream choice for Gelsenkirchen’s defensive center, which will be strengthened after promotion, although there are eight central defenders in the team. He came to the Seagulls from AC Fiorentina in 2023 for 16.5 million euros and his contract is valid until 2027. If a commitment doesn’t work out, the miners would look for alternatives. One of them seemed to be Sean Dulic from TSV 1860 Munich, who is moving to TSG Hoffenheim.
Schalke has so far presented two new players with Satoshi Tanaka, who came from Fortuna Düsseldorf, and Junior Adamu from SC Freiburg. Negotiations are also underway with junior Dina Ebimbe from Eintracht Frankfurt and goalkeeper Kevin Müller, who is expected to stay on after his loan from 1. FC Heidenheim. They are also looking for a left-back and a right-back. There have recently been rumors about Elias Baum.
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